- Meteor-Showers-0.mp3
- Meteor-Showers-0.mp4
- Meteor-Showers-I.mp3
- Meteor-Showers-I.mp4
- Meteor-Showers-II.mp3
- Meteor-Showers-II.mp4
- Meteor-Showers-III.mp3
- Meteor-Showers-III.mp4
- Meteor-Showers-space-intro.mp3
[Intro]
(Wow! Somehow)
The tale…
(Of the comet’s tail)
Paranoid…
(Of an asteroid?)
[Bridge]
Brought into sight
(Orbital alignment)
See!
(Upon atmospheric entry)
[Verse]
Perseids, Leonids, Geminids
(Open my eyelids)
The stars are falling
(Mother Nature is calling)
[Bridge]
Ohhh (ohh, ohh so….)
[Chorus]
(Wow! Somehow)
The tale…
(Of the comet’s tail)
Try ‘n avoid…
(The asteroid?)
[Bridge]
Brought into sight
(Orbital alignment)
See!
(Upon atmospheric entry)
[Verse]
Recurring dreams
(So the scene seems)
The sky is falling
(Mother Nature sprawling)
[Chorus]
(Wow! Somehow)
The tale…
(Of the comet’s tail)
Try ‘n avoid…
(The asteroid?)
[Outro]
Brought into sight
(Orbital alignment)
See!
(Upon atmospheric entry)
A SCIENCE NOTE
Meteor showers occur when Earth passes through the trail of debris left behind by a comet or an asteroid. The small particles in these trails, often no larger than grains of sand, enter Earth’s atmosphere at extremely high speeds (up to 70 kilometers per second). The friction with the atmosphere heats these particles, causing them to glow and create streaks of light in the sky, which we see as meteors.
Key Causes:
- Comet Debris:
- Most meteor showers are associated with comets, which shed material as they approach the Sun. This debris lingers in the comet’s orbit, forming a trail of particles.
- For example, the Perseid meteor shower is caused by debris from Comet Swift-Tuttle.
- Asteroid Debris:
- Some meteor showers are linked to debris from asteroids. For instance, the Geminids are caused by the asteroid 3200 Phaethon, which behaves like a rocky comet.
- Earth’s Orbit:
- As Earth moves through its yearly orbit, it intersects with these debris trails at specific times, causing predictable meteor showers.
Why Do We See Meteor Showers in Certain Locations and Times?
- Orbit Alignment: The path of the debris must align with Earth’s orbit.
- Atmospheric Entry: The meteors burn up at altitudes of 70-100 km, creating visible light.
- Recurring Events: Showers recur annually when Earth passes through the same debris field.
Notable Meteor Showers:
- Perseids (August): From Comet Swift-Tuttle.
- Leonids (November): From Comet Tempel-Tuttle.
- Geminids (December): From asteroid 3200 Phaethon.
Meteor showers are a natural reminder of Earth’s interaction with the solar system and provide spectacular celestial displays when conditions are right.